FBI arrests Ryan Kelley, Michigan GOP governor candidate, over Capitol riots

LANSING, Mich. — The FBI detained Ryan Kelley, a Republican gubernatorial candidate in Michigan, and raided his home on Thursday, a surprising twist in one of the state’s most unpredictable primary elections.

Kelley faces multiple charges, according to a criminal complaint filed in federal court in Washington, D.C., for his role in protests at the United States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, when supporters of former President Donald Trump stormed the building in an attempt to prevent President Joe Biden’s victory from being certified.

According to FBI spokesman Mara Schneider, the FBI executed both a search warrant and an arrest warrant at Kelley’s house in Allendale Township, western Michigan, and detained Kelley.

According to video obtained by Bridge Michigan, FBI agents led Kelley into a grey SUV with them just before 9:30 a.m.

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Chris Kelley, a relative and the Kelley campaign’s treasurer, said he was “informed” of the law enforcement raid on Thursday morning but declined to speak further.

Kelley has denied entering the United States Capitol on January 6, 2021, yet court records reveal he has been charged with various riot-related crimes:

Without official authorisation, entering or remaining in any restricted building or grounds.
Disruptive and disorderly behaviour in a restricted building or area
Intentionally committing any act of physical harm against a person or property in a restricted structure or on limited grounds.
Intentionally damaging or depredating any United States property

Kelley, a real estate salesperson, rose to popularity in conservative circles in 2020 after organising a Michigan Capitol demonstration against COVID-19 legislation and fighting the removal of a Confederate statue in his hometown.

Kelley may be seen climbing on scaffolding and urging other protesters in a video taken outside the US Capitol on Jan. 6.

Despite flash bang grenades, tear gas, and the appearance of riot police, footage from Jan. 6, 2021 showed Kelley among the mass of enormous crowds who surged toward the Capitol that afternoon, wearing apparel identical to those he worn at Michigan events.

He looked to be waving protestors toward the Capitol and recording others as they clashed with police in other clip. “Once things began getting ugly, I left,” Kelley told MLive in March 2021, although film released a few months later by Michigan Democrats shows Kelley saying “this is war, baby” as protestors stormed the Capitol.

Ryan Kelley:

“Come on, let's go! This is it! This is, this is war baby!"@kelleyforgov pic.twitter.com/IrNc3Rv10M
— Michigan Tea (@MichiganTea) June 28, 2021

The raid occurred just hours before a House committee probing the 2021 Capitol attacks to deliver its findings in a prime-time session.

After five other Republican gubernatorial candidates were excluded from the Aug. 2 ballot for submitting fake signatures in their nomination papers, Kelley is one of five remaining Republican gubernatorial candidates.

One of the remaining contenders, businessman Kevin Rinke, expressed his admiration for Kelley on Twitter.

“I’m hoping the FBI is acting properly, since the timing here raises severe concerns. I’m hoping for the best for him and his family “Rinke took to Twitter to express himself.